Koshyari marches against China over Tibet suppression

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 10

A key RSS functionary, Swami Indresh Kumar, and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari led a march here today to highlight the violation of human rights in Tibet by the Chinese regime.

They said China had illegally occupied the country, and pitched for an “autonomous rule” for them. The occasion was International Human Rights Day.

The event was organised under the aegis of the ‘Bharat Tibet Sahyog Manch’ of which Kumar is the patron and Ko-shyari president.

Later, the two leaders addressed the participants of the march. Former Home Minister of the Tibetan government in exile, Gyari Dolma, also took part in the programme. They cautioned the Chinese government to stop “the suppression and torture” of Tibetans.

Kumar said, “India will keep supporting the people of the hill country in safeguarding their human rights and also struggle for their independence. The two countries have cultural and historical ties for the past more than 1,000 years. Tibetans have been struggling to get independence from the Chinese occupation. About 150 people have self-immolated themselves to draw the attention of the world community towards the Chinese brutalities.”

He cautioned China to desist from expansionism and its policy of promoting violence in neighbouring countries, including India through Maoism and Naxalism.  He said India has the capacity to retaliate. “India does not have to engage China militarily. During last Diwali, Indians boycotted Chinese goods. This kind of surgical strike on the Chinese economy has the capacity to humble it,” Kumar added.

The participation of the two top leaders from the Sangh Parivar and use of strong words against China have raised eye-brows in the national Capital.

Koshyari said China should give Tibetans autonomy until its territorial dispute was settled.